Controlled growth of ordered monolayers of N-heterocyclic carbenes on silicon

Franz, Martin; Chandola, Sandhya; Koy, Maximilian; Zielinski, Robert; Aldahhak, Hazem; Das, Mowpriya; Freitag, Matthias; Gerstmann, Uwe; Liebig, Denise; Hoffmann, Adrian Karl; Rosin, Maximilian; Schmidt, Wolf Gero; Hogan, Conor; Glorius, Frank; Esser, Norbert; Daehne, Mario

Forschungsartikel (Zeitschrift) | Peer reviewed

Zusammenfassung

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are promising modifiers and anchors for surface functionalization and offer some advantages over thiol-based systems. Because of their strong binding affinity and high electron donation, NHCs can dramatically change the properties of the surfaces to which they are bonded. Highly ordered NHC monolayers have so far been limited to metal surfaces. Silicon, however, remains the element of choice in semiconductor devices and its modification is therefore of utmost importance for electronic industries. Here, a comprehensive study on the adsorption of NHCs on silicon is presented. We find covalently bound NHC molecules in an upright adsorption geometry and demonstrate the formation of highly ordered monolayers exhibiting good thermal stability and strong work function reductions. The structure and ordering of the monolayers is controlled by the substrate geometry and reactivity and in particular by the NHC side groups. These findings pave the way towards a tailor-made organic functionalization of silicon surfaces and, thanks to the high modularity of NHCs, new electronic and optoelectronic applications.

Details zur Publikation

FachzeitschriftNature Chemistry
Jahrgang / Bandnr. / Volume13
Ausgabe / Heftnr. / Issue9
Seitenbereich828-835
StatusVeröffentlicht
Veröffentlichungsjahr2021
DOI10.1038/s41557-021-00721-2
Link zum Volltexthttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-021-00721-2
Stichwörtermonolayers; N-heterocyclic carbenes; silicon; adsorption; surfaces

Autor*innen der Universität Münster

Das, Mowpriya
Professur für Organische Chemie (Prof. Glorius)
Freitag, Matthias
Professur für Organische Chemie (Prof. Glorius)
Glorius, Frank
Professur für Organische Chemie (Prof. Glorius)
Koy, Maximilian
Professur für Organische Chemie (Prof. Glorius)